Saturday, July 2, 2016

“I passed… the corpse of a beautiful boy in gray who
lay with his blond curls scattered about his face and his hand folded
peacefully across his breast. He was clad in a bright and neat uniform,
well garnished with gold, which seemed to tell the story of a loving
mother and sisters who had sent their household pet to the field of war.
His neat little hat lying beside him bore the number of a Georgia
regiment… He was about my age… At the sight of the poor boy’s corpse, I
burst into a regular boo hoo and started on.”

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While in the western theater early in the war, Grant observed the brisk illicit traffic passing around his lines as Yankee traders and speculators bribed Northern officers to allow their passage to purchase cotton. Later in the war, General W.H.C. Whiting in command of the Cape Fear District at Wilmington wrote President Davis that blockade runners with Northern goods aboard seemed to pass through the blockade more easily.
Bernhard Thuersam, www.Circa1865.com The Great American Political Divide

Unstoppable Yankee Avarice

“The amount of greed and corruption that attended the business of blockade-running was about what might have been anticipated, and involved not only Southerners and Britons, but some grasping Yankees.

When Gazaway B. Lamar (though born in Georgia, Lamar removed to Brooklyn in 1845 and became successful in business, and for several years president of the Bank of the Republic, New York), a pre-war smuggler of Africans into the South, headed a company that vigorously operated four steamers, and along with Fraser and Company of Charleston, and Fraser, Trenholm of Liverpool reported lucrative returns, it is no wonder that some Northerners watched these traders enviously! The contraband commerce had all the attractions of gambling for high stakes.

More than half the ships and cargoes tried in the New York prize court were British, but the British name too often concealed Northern interests. Some Yankees were as ready to evade trading-with-the-enemy laws as their fathers had been in 1812. Northern goods, their labels altered to flaunt famous English names, passed through Boston or New York on long roundabout trips, Boston-Bermuda-Wilmington, or New York-Nassau-Mobile, and sometimes were even shipped with bold directness to Charleston or Matamoros.

At its height, the New York trade with Bermuda, Nassau and Havana was scandalously large. A “ring” of dealers, shippers, and blockade-runners helped organize the traffic and made arrangements with the Custom House for shipments. In the autumn of 1864, information was given Naval Officer William E. Dennison that blockade-runners had been heard to boast of ease with which they could clear outward-bound goods through the [New York] Custom House. Several men swore that one employee, the son of H.B. Stanton the noted Abolitionist orator, had taken bribes, and he and his father were dismissed.

[As for Yankee cotton-buying in the West, Grant] . . . “in private conversations to the end of the war, he always spoke of them as a gang of thieves.” As Lincoln crisply put it, “The army itself is diverted from fighting the rebels to speculating in cotton.” Rear Admiral Porter said of the Treasury agents sent down by [Treasury Secretary Salmon P.] Chase to control the situation: “A greater pack of knaves never went unhung.”

Yet his own gunboat crews were equally unscrupulous, one Senator later declaring that they had made a hundred millions during the war. Charles A. Dana wrote: “Every soldier dreams of adding a bale of cotton to his monthly pay.” And David Perry of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, son of a mayor of Bloomington, Illinois, made a yet graver charge.

“Many lives have been sacrificed during the past summer and fall, he informed his father as the year 1862 ended, “that certain high officers might make their fortunes with cotton-trade, and many a poor darkey who had fled to us has been traded off, by officers holding high positions in the army and before the world, for cotton. The truth is, when an impartial history of this war shall be written, it will expose a greater amount of fraud and corruption than the world has ever before seen. Even your Bloomington general, Hovey, traded Negroes for cotton and sacrificed many lives . . . for the sole purpose of making money.”

By Autumn [1862], a correspondent of the New York Tribune was asserting flatly, “One of the causes of the want of discipline, energy and military power in the army of the Southwest is the mania for cotton speculation which has seized upon the officers of the Army, from generals down to quartermasters and lieutenants.”

Loyal Union planters saw their cotton pounced upon by greedy [Northern] officers who waved papers, talked of the violation of obscure military orders, and shipped the crop away with almost no concealment of the fact of private interest.

The ebullient “Russ” Jones of Chicago, close friend of both Grant and Elihu Washburne, made no secret of his activities. He wrote Congressman Washburne at the beginning of 1863 from Holly Springs, Mississippi, that Grant had treated him kindly.

He hoped the army would push farther South, “as I want to get as far into the enemy’s country as possible. If we get out safely with what cotton we have bought, I shall clear four or five thousand for my share . . .” Jones, former Galena businessman and Republican politician, continued to serve in his patronage post of Marshal. In 1869 he was named Minister to Belgium by Grant, and was very active in Republican politics and Chicago street railroads. At one time he managed some property and investments for Grant.”

(The War for the Union, Allan Nevins, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1971, excerpts

Emerald
Isle will be in the spotlight as a new version of the popular
Beachfront Bargain Hunt show airs tonight featuring a couple searching
for a beach home on a budget.

The premise is the same as the original show, but Beachfront Bargain
Hunt: Renovation helps families get into their dream home by buying a
fixer upper to be renovated.
The new episode airs tonight at 9 p.m.

It
is not the first time HGTV has filmed episodes of Beachfront Bargain
Hunt along Bogue Banks and Emerald Isle and Mac Nelson of Advantage
Coastal Properties in Emerald Isle said they were excited to have the
opportunity to again help families find the beach home perfect for them
and their budget.

Call it conspiracy theory, coincidence or just bad luck, but any time
someone is in a position to bring down Hillary Clinton by testifying
they wind up dead. In fact, there’s a long history of Clinton-related body counts, with scores of people dying under mysterious circumstances.

Perhaps the most notable is Vince Foster. Foster was a partner at
Clinton’s law firm and knew the inner workings of the Clinton Machine.
Police ruled that death a suicide, though it is often noted that Foster
may have been suicided.

Now, another official has found himself on the wrong end of the Clintons. That John Ashe was a former President of the United Nations General Assembly highlights the fact that no one is safe once in their sights.
And as you might have guessed, there are major inconsistencies with Ashe’s death. It was not only conveniently timed because Ashe died just a few days before being set to testify against Clinton in a corruption case, but official reports indicated he died of a heart attack.

The problem, however, is that police on the scene reported Ashe died when his throat was crushed during a work-out accident.

Eric Greitens, one of the four Republicans running for Missouri
Governor, has issued an 'ISIS Hunting Permit' as part of his
campaign. Greitens' campaign started selling bumper stickers with the
words "ISIS HUNTING PERMIT 2016" on Tuesday. The sticker says it expires
when "we defeat this evil."

The mock hunting permits are being sold for a $10 donation. For $100,
donors can get stickers signed by a former Navy SEAL who claims he
killed Osama bin Laden.

Greitens, a former Navy SEAL officer, tells Fox2 they've been a hit with supporters.

"Secretary Clinton gave a
voluntary interview this morning about her email arrangements while she
was Secretary," Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill said in an email
Saturday afternoon. "She is pleased to have had the opportunity to
assist the Department of Justice in bringing this review to a
conclusion. Out of respect for the investigative process, she will not
comment further on her interview."

U.S. stocks booked a fourth straight daily gain Friday, and the Dow
and S&P 500 marked their best week this year as stocks clawed back
some of the losses scored in the wake of the tumult that followed the
U.K.’s decision last week to sever ties with the European Union.

Better-than-expected
manufacturing data combined with fading worries about the Brexit, or
British exit from the EU, stoked appetite for equities.

After an initial slump in the first two trading days following the Brexit vote, the index of Britain’s top 100 companies regained all its losses by Wednesday and is now at its best level since last August.

The remarkable rebound has surprised analysts, with Chris Beauchamp, a
senior market analyst at the spread betting group IG, saying: “Of all
the post-Brexit outcomes discussed across the City over the past few
months, ‘buying frenzy’ was not one that was viewed as very likely.”

Via Billy

3-year undercover sting operation by the Pennsylvania Attorney
General’s Office captured five state officials on tape accepting
money…” The article listed the five officials, one of which was “State
Rep. Vanessa Brown who took $4,000 in exchange for voting against a bill
requiring voters to show identification at the polls. Brown did vote
against the bill…”

***************************

This is the weekend for the re-enactment of the tragic Battle of
Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

Re-enactors come from all across the country
to take part in one army or the other. However, one Pennsylvania
politician does not welcome the Confederate Battle Flag. Undoubtedly
there are others but this lady is creating somewhat of a hostile
environment by her commentary on the flag. Southern hospitality is
something that apparently does not abide in her.

The lady is Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, a Democrat from Philadelphia
and she has quite a history.
According to a recent article on http://abc27.com Brown
“…recently protested a Confederate flag in a display at the state
Capitol…and Gov. Tom Wolf ordered it removed. Brown says its a symbol of
hatred and murder which wasn’t mentioned in the Capitol display and
likely won’t be on the battlefield reenactment.” She’s right–it probably
won’t be mentioned–for the simple reason that it is not true. Whether
Ms. Brown realizes that or not I don’t claim to know. Brown said “If
they’re not going to tell the story properly, then they should not be
displayed and they should not be reenacted unless they are going to tell
the truth.”

Ms. Brown is a cultural Marxist, whether she even realizes
it or not (though I think she does) and what her statement means in that
context is that if the story is not told in a way that is compatible
with the cultural Marxist agenda then it should not be told at all or
the history should simply be rewritten to fit the cultural Marxist
agenda because that’s what most of these “memory hole” Marxists are
really all about. Brown just makes the statement that the flag is a
symbol of murder and hate. Where’s her proof for such a statement? Black
soldiers fought under that flag. Were they murderers too? Ms. Brown is
either woefully ignorant of the real history or she fervently hopes
those who listen to her inflammatory statement are.

A place in south west of Kunming, Capital city of Yunnan Province.
Because of remoteness and lack of infra structure and lodging etc. This
place is not listed in the tourist map of China.

The red land of
the eastern river is a place where one almost can not find in China's
tourist maps. Even if there is, it has only a few words to introduce
it.

It is located in the southwestern part of KUNMING, 2600 ft. above sea level, a remote area.
Because of its lack of infrastructure, transportation problem, inadequate lodging facilities.
ordinary travel agency would not think of going there.

Even the people living there are not so aware or familiar with its existing beauty.

But
for those who have seen the pictures of the Red land , no one can
resist being attracted to its beautiful scenery! Just like a painting of
a great magnificent landscape.
Because
the soil contains such components as oxidized Iron, etc kind of
metallic minerals. after a long period of oxidation , gradually added
and mixed in the soil that produced this extra-ordinary reddish brown
soil.

If she is indicted, she will face further questions about her honesty and perhaps even calls for her to step aside. If she isn’t indicted, as many legal experts predict,
critics will accuse the Obama administration of letting her escape
charges merely because they want her to win the White House.

The
threat of political pain even with no indictment was underscored as
dozens of Republicans lawmakers pressed Attorney General Loretta Lynch
to appoint a special prosecutor far removed from the White House to
determine if any laws have been broken.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed legislation that would impose new
restrictions on assault weapons and regulate the sale of ammunition in
California, cementing the state’s reputation for enacting some of the
most stringent gun regulations in the country.

Propelled
by the reaction to mass shootings in San Bernardino, in Southern
California, and Orlando, Fla., the gun regulations are the latest
example of how this state, where the Legislature is under Democratic
control, has been able to enact a legislative agenda on issues that have
deadlocked Congress.

The
legislation in Sacramento was passed with overwhelming Democratic
support, and was largely opposed by Republicans who make up a small
minority in the Senate and the Assembly.

The assembled Presbyterians no doubt thought they were being
wonderfully open-minded and ecumenical; they did not realize that Wajidi
Said was openly proselytizing for Islam. “Lead us on the straight path”
is straight from the Fatihah, the Opening, the Qur’an’s first chapter
and the most common and oft-repeated prayer in Islam. Islamic scholars
identify the straight path with Islam itself.

And in invoking “Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad,”
Said sounded beautifully ecumenical himself to the ranked
Presbyterians, aglow in their bloomin’ primness, but in reality he was
reflecting the Islamic belief that those figures and the other Biblical
prophets all actually taught Islam, but their messages were corrupted by
their followers to create Judaism and Christianity.

Thanks Obama voters......... can't find background information on her, but I imagine we can guess 90%.

An elite Manhattan school is teaching white students as young
as 6 that they’re born racist and should feel guilty benefiting from
“white privilege,” while heaping praise and cupcakes on their black
peers.
Administrators at the Bank Street School for Children on the Upper
West Side claim it’s a novel approach to fighting discrimination, and
that several other private New York schools are doing it, but even
liberal parents aren’t buying it.

They complain the K-8 school of 430 kids is separating whites in
classes where they’re made to feel awful about their “whiteness,” and
all the “kids of color” in other rooms where they’re taught to feel
proud about their race and are rewarded with treats and other
privileges.

Reporter Christopher Sign of ABC 15 in Phoenix, AZ appeared on The
O’Reilly Factor Thursday night to talk about his scoop involving that
secret meeting between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney
General Loretta Lynch.

Sign lays out how the story developed and then he leaves this little nugget:

“The former president steps into her plane. They then
speak for 30 minutes privately. The FBI there on the tarmac instructing
everybody around ‘no photos, no pictures, no cell phones.'”

Interesting.

First of all, it isn’t the FBI’s job to tell journalists or private
citizens they can’t take photographs of a former president and the
Attorney General. What were the agents going to do, arrest people for
taking a picture or video?

Also, if there was nothing wrong with the meeting and it was totally
innocent, why were federal agents instructed to demand no one take a
picture?

Finally, let’s stop focusing on the fact that this meeting was inappropriate because Clinton’s wife
is under investigation by Lynch’s Justice Department. I mean, that’s
bad, but it’s actually letting Lynch and Clinton off the hook a bit. By
focusing on the appearance of conflict because Hillary Clinton is being investigated, we are willfully overlooking the very real conflict in the fact that Clinton himself is under investigation, as the Grand Poo-bah at the Clinton Foundation. (Fox News)

Remembrance

To die for one’s country is not only an act of bravery, it is THE act of bravery. For soldiers, it is just an extension of their military career, a part of their duty. As leaders have asked their soldiers to sacrifice themselves for the good of the society, it is only right for leaders to go through the same motion. They should practice what they have preached.

As war is seen as a noble act, tu sat serves as redemption in case of defeat. It is also a way to tell the enemy: “You might have won the battle/war but you don’t deserve to win because you don’t have the chinh nghia (just cause).” And it is not only just cause: it is the moral belief that the cause they are fighting for deserves their total sacrifice. Continues below

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Core Creek Militia

==============================My sixth great grandfather, his wife, and five of his six children were killed in battle with the Tuscarora Indians at Core Creek, NC.

The Seven Blackbirds

==============================My third great grandfather was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War, and saved his unit's flag after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was also at Kingston (Kinston), Wilmington, Charleston, Two Sisters and Augusta. He was at the defeat at Brier Creek and also Bee Creek.

Requiem Aeternam -
Eternal Rest Grant unto Them
==============================
My second great grandfather was killed in action on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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My great grandfather and great uncle knew all the men in the "Civil War Requiem" video as they were part of the 53rd NC which was the sole unit defending Fort Mahone. (Fort Mahone was named "Fort Damnation" by the Yankees) *Handpicked men of the 53rd (My great grandfather was one of these) made the final, night assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman which was a few miles to the slight northeast. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. This video is made from photographs which were taken the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox. I have many more pictures taken by the same photographer, one of these shows a 14 year old boy and the other is the famous picture of the blond, handsome soldier with his musket.
===========================
*General Gordon promised the men a gold medal and 30 days leave if they accomplished their task and many years after the War my great grandfather wrote General Gordon, who was then governor of Georgia about this incident. They exchanged several letters which I have framed. See first link below.
===========================
*The Attack On Fort Stedman
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"His Colored Friends"
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Lee's Surrender
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My Black NC Kinfolks
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Punished For Being Caught!

Great Grandfather Koonce

He was a drummer boy in the WBTS, survived the War only to die a few years later. He was caught in an ice storm on his way home, but instead of seeking shelter, continued on his horse until the end. His clothes had to be cut off and he died a few days later.